Stage Lights and Heart Skips

Maya's hands shook so badly she almost dropped the vitamin D supplement. Third period lunch, and she'd been awake for exactly thirty-two of the last thirty-six hours. The school musical opened in two days, and she'd finally landed her first real lead role after three years of being background tree #4.

"You look like a zombie," said Jace, sliding into the seat across from her. He was wearing that flannel shirt she'd pretended not to notice him in every day since September.

"Thanks, Jace. Really boosting the confidence here."

"I mean it in a hot way." He grinned, and Maya's stomach did that annoying flutter thing. "Like, walking dead aesthetic. Very emo chick energy."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling back. Then the cafeteria lights flickered. Once. Twice.

"Great," someone muttered. "The building's falling apart again."

Outside, the sky had turned that particular shade of orange that meant either beautiful sunset or incoming tornado. Maya's phone buzzed – her mom texting about groceries. *Pick up orange juice on your way home.*

"Hey," Jace said, suddenly serious. "After opening night, you want to—"

CRACK.

Lightning struck so close the cafeteria windows actually shook. Half the students screamed. The power died instantly, plunging them into near-darkness.

In the chaos, Maya felt Jace's hand cover hers on the table. Her breath caught. This was it – the moment every teen movie had prepared her for. The romantic blackout scene.

"Maya," he said, his voice low.

"Yeah?" she whispered back, heart hammering against her ribs like it was trying to escape.

"Your vitamin just rolled under my shoe."

She laughed. Of course. This was her life – close, but not quite.

But as emergency lights flickered on and Jace bent to retrieve it, his shoulder brushed hers. And in that tiny, electric contact, Maya felt something more powerful than any storm outside. Something real and terrifying and absolutely worth staying awake for.

"Opening night," he said, straightening up with her pill. "I'll be front row, zombie girl."

The lights came back on. But Maya's world had already shifted.